Frugal spells from Lockie Ferguson (3 for 0) and Tim Southee (2 for 11) set the base as New Zealand inflicted a crushing 7-wicket defeat on PNG in their inconsequential final Group game of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Ferguson became only the second bowler in T20Is to send down 24 dot balls as he ran through the PNG batting order to help roll them out for a lowly 78. New Zealand took only 12.2 overs to wrap up the win and finish their campaign on a high.
The difference: Lockie Ferguson’s run-less spell
Ferguson was only introduced in the fifth over, but he built on the tight bowling of the new-ball pair in helpful conditions, and went on to claim three key wickets without conceding a single run. His return in the middle-overs, when PNG were looking for stability, stemmed the little progress they had managed. He took out both the set batters, triggering a fatal collapse of 8 for 37 that saw PNG shot down for a score well below par.
PNG
Powerplay: Early wickets rock PNG
PNG: 16/2 (RR: 2.67, 2x4s)
The pre-game rain delayed the start of proceedings but worked in New Zealand’s favour. A couple of early wickets for Southee and Ferguson pushed PNG on the backfoot as they could only muster their lowest PowerPlay score ever of 16/2. Tony Ura was the first to go, mistiming a wild swing off an outswinger and sending a leading edge to backward point. Ferguson then struck off his first ball of the game, Assad Vala paying the price for playing a drive away from his body to pop an outside edge to slips.
Middle overs: The Ferguson strangles
PNG: 36/3 (RR: 4, 3x4s)
Following up on his wicket-maiden first over, Ferguson continued the good work but the introduction of spin brought some respite for PNG. Ish Sodhi, who came in for Jimmy Neesham, was particularly expensive. Duly, New Zealand brought back Ferguson who not only helped get rid of the two set batters, but also rounded up his spell without conceding a single run.
Death overs: Boult, Sodhi clean up the tail
PNG: 26/5 (RR: 5.5, 4s/6s: 2/1)
PNG’s slow progress undone, Boult capitalised on their misery as he returned to the attack in the 16th over and pegged back the leg-stump of Hiri Hiri a ball after the batter gave charge to pick up a much-needed boundary for his team. Playing his last World Cup game, Boult completed his spell of 2-14 with the wicket of Norman Vanua who tried to pull a well-disguised knuckle ball and ended up top-edging to midwicket instead. Sodhi, who bowled a third expensive over – worth 11 – cleaned up two tailenders in the space of four balls in the final over, keeping PNG to 78.
New Zealand
Powerplay: Allen, Ravindra depart cheaply
NZ: 29/2 (RR: 4.83, 4/6s: 1/2)
The chase of 79 wasn’t as straightforward. Finn Allen was the first casualty of PNG’s spirited start with the ball, edging behind to the keeper as he saw width on offer and threw his bat at it. This was Allen’s second dismissal to a left-arm pacer this World Cup and 19th overall in the format. Conway and Rachin Ravindra, meanwhile, both struggled for timing. But while Conway found a way past it – smashing Alei Nao for a six over deep midwicket – Ravindra perished attempting a similar shot in the following over. Conway went big again to help New Zealand wrap up powerplay with 29/2 on the board.
Middle-overs: Conway perishes but NZ keep PNG win-less
NZ: 50/1 in (RR: 7.89, 4s/6s: 4/1)
After trudging at about run-a-ball for the better part of his innings, Conway took right-arm pacer Chad Soper to the cleaners with a four and a six in the ninth over to take New Zealand past the 50-run mark. He was trapped LBW the very next ball he faced, off Semo Kamea, and even the review was in vain. New Zealand hardly had any scoreboard pressure to speak of, allowing Daryl Mitchell to take a moment to get his eye in. And once he did, three boundaries off Kamea in the 12th over all but confirmed the inevitable.
Brief scores: PNG 78 in 19.4 overs (Lockie Ferguson 3-0, Tim Southee 2-11) lost to New Zealand 79/3 in 12.2 overs (Devon Conway 35; Kabua Morea 2-4) by 7 wickets
